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IBEW Local 21 Archived News Stories
January - August 2009
August has been declared IBEW Local 21 month at Six Flags in St Louis.
A special price of $24.84 is available to all IBEW Local 21 members and retirees. This price includes admission to both Six Flags Park and Hurricane Harbor, and a souvenir Kodak photo is included in the special IBEW Local 21 ticket price. Discounted parking is available for only $10. A limited number of tickets are available. Call the IBEW Local 21 union hall at 630-960-4466 ext 527 to order tickets. You can also inquire about special Holiday Inn rates. For more information download the flyer here.
Watch where the AT&T Greed truck has traveled
IBEW Local 21 Election Results
The results from the IBEW Local 21 elections have been tabulated. Our membership has sent a strong message to our employers by overwhelmingly reelecting Ronald E. Kastner as President Business Manager-Financial Secretary, Kevin Curran Vice President, Lynn Arwood Recording Secretary, and Jacquie Fields Treasurer. A special thank you goes out to all our members who furthered union democracy by voting in these important elections. A complete listing of the election results which include E-Board members, unit officers, and delegates can be found ... [more]
Governor Quinn Supports the Employee Free Choice Act
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn sent letters asking President Obama, Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader and Senator Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader to support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). In his letter Governor Quinn, covers the three key ways EFCA will help workers form union in their work places.
The Act provides for the recognition of a union when the majority of employees voluntarily sign authorization cards, offers mediation and binding arbitration to resolve first contracts, and strengthens penalties for violations. He quotes Abraham Lincoln, “All that harms labor is treason to America.” [more]
IBEW and CWA Reach Settlement with Avaya
The IBEW and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced that they reached a tentative three-year agreement with Avaya on June 3. The new agreement provides continuing company-funded medical insurance to active employees and retirees represented by the unions. Avaya originally proposed that workers pay a portion of their health insurance premiums, but negotiators held firm. For more details click here.
IBEW Local 21 Mobilizes at AT&T Shareholder Meeting
Dallas, Texas - On April 24, 2009, IBEW Local Union 21 President-Business Manager Ronald Kastner led a union delegation to the 2009 AT&T Shareholder Meeting. While driving to the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum (www.dallasarboretum.org), we saw the monstrous new AT&T headquarters. AT&T had police at the gate, trying to direct us to entrances far from the site. They wanted activists to park in a "special" lot, far away from "normal" shareholders, probably because of our thought provoking "Will Strike if Provoked" snake shirts. Our delegation refused to comply with those requests.
IBEW 21 & CWA Activists Rally outside the AT&T Shareholder Meeting
Upon parking, we quickly joined with other CWA rank-n-file activists for a few photos. Shockingly, a company representative (with umbrella in the photo slideshow) told us we could not congregate, could not carry posters, banners, or flags of any kind. She specifically said we could not even display the United States flag! We did anyway, proudly, ignoring her corporate ignorance as you will see in our slideshow. [More]
GREED- National TV Ad for the Employee Free Choice Act
From our good friends at American Rights at Work, comes a new a new, hard-hitting ad to support the Employee Free Choice Act. "Greed" calls out corporations, many of whom have received billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts, for opposing the Employee Free Choice Act.
The ad points out that instead of focusing on rebuilding our economy, companies like Bank of America have been working against workers' freedom to bargain collectively, exploiting their low wage workers, and rewarding their leaders with million dollar payouts.
Mourn for the Dead – Fight for the Living
Observe Workers Memorial Day April 28
On April 28, union members across the U.S. will observe Workers’ Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have been killed or injured on the job.
The theme of this year’s observance is “Good Jobs. Safe Jobs. Give Workers a Voice for a Change.”
Under President Obama’s leadership, American workers have a strong voice in Washington for the first time in eight years. We have seen positive changes that will help protect workers’ rights on the job. But the struggle continues to uphold and enforce the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act that was signed over 30 years ago, guaranteeing safe working conditions for us all. [More]
IBEW and AT&T Reach Historic Agreement for 2009 Contract Talks
IBEW Local Union 21 President-Business Manager Ron Kastner announces that a historic agreement has been reached regarding our upcoming contract negotiations with AT&T. IBEW Local Union 21 has reached an agreement with System Council T-3 IBEW Local Unions that represent the “Legacy T” AT&T unionized employees throughout the United States.
Those Local Unions have agreed to change the expiration dates of their contracts to match IBEW Local Union 21’s contract expiration date of June 27, 2009. Working with these other local unions and the IBEW International, our union was also able to get AT&T to agree to nationwide bargaining. Read the complete story on the IBEW International website. [More]
IBEW Local 21 Wins Landmark FMLA Lawsuit
Our local has won a lawsuit against AT&T, challenging the company’s refusal to count hours worked on union business toward Family and Medical Leave Act coverage for union stewards, union activists and staff. While some may ask why this is important to all members, we believe this to be one of many attempts by the “new AT&T” to discourage members from participating and getting involved in the activities of their union. Read more about AT&T’s most recent unsuccessful attempt at union-busting. [More]
Unity at Avaya
The IBEW, CWA, and Avaya met recently to explore the possibility of extending the current collective bargaining agreement. The parties had agreed prior, they would only address wages, pensions and Job Security. However, after two days of meeting, it was apparent that Avaya was not going to live up to their agreement. They proposed having our retirees begin paying for their healthcare during the life of the extension at an estimated $165 per month. In addition, Avaya made the healthcare proposal a condition of any extension. [More]
IBEW Local Union 21 Organizer Highlights Workplace Intimidation in Radio Piece
As anti-labor groups nationwide ratchet up their rhetoric against the Employee Free Choice Act, Downers Grove, Ill., Local 21 Business Representative Dave Webster told Chicago Public Radio how management can thwart efforts to unionize. Click here to re-direct to the IBEW International Webpage for complete story
What is the Employee Free Choice Act?
The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800, S. 1041), supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, would enable working people to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to choose for themselves whether to join a union. It would:
• Establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations.
• Provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes (PDF).
• Allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.
AFL-CIO’s Stewart Acuff Cuts through the Big Business Spin on EFCA
See more videos on the Employee Free Choice Act (from the AFL-CIO)
Corporate Greed Behind Opposition to Employee Free Choice
The Big Money opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) are throwing out a slew of arguments against it, hoping something will stick. But at bottom, the reason for their opposition is greed.
Greed at the expense of America’s workers and the nation’s middle class. Read more in a January 12, 2009 story by Tula Connell, covered on the AFL-CIO NOW Blog.